A group of Catholic bishops is preparing a "special message" for President Donald Trump and is expected to consider it on Wednesday.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced it will take a stand for migrants whom the Trump administration has targeted in an aggressive crackdown that has prevented many from receiving communion, according to The Washington Post.
They launched a campaign called "You Are Not Alone," which aims to provide direct aid to and offer solidarity with migrants, who make up about one-third of the U.S. Church. Another 14% of Catholics are children of immigrants.
It's a sign that bishops are ready to "stiffen their resolve to support immigrants," and many Catholic leaders have voiced their concern and challenged the Trump administration over violent tactics used by immigration agents and the targeting of people who are lawfully in the country.
The message on Wednesday is viewed as "rare" as the last one was in 2013, and requires two-thirds agreement by the bishops.
“Our immigrant brothers and sisters … are living in a deep state of fear,” El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz told the clerics when he announced the campaign. Seitz leads the bishops' committee on migration.
“I’ve been heartened by the statements of solidarity of so many of you and others in recent months. Of course as pastors devoted to the Gospel, we know statements are not enough," he said.